Simone Biles has candidly shared her experiences with anxiety during the Olympics in a video that showcases her preparations leading up to Thursday’s remarkable all-around gold medal win.
In a TikTok that was recorded prior to her victory but posted on Friday, the 27-year-old offered fans a glimpse into her behind-the-scenes life in France. She captioned the video: ‘Get ready with meeee for all around finals @ the Olympics.’
While applying her makeup ahead of her second event, she openly spoke about managing emotions amidst the pressures of such a significant competition.
‘I am feeling very nervous, which is completely normal,’ she expressed. ‘I had therapy earlier today, so I’m feeling a bit more at ease now. I’ve put in so much mental effort to reach this point.’
‘Tonight I begin with the vault, and I have to admit, that’s the event that concerns me the most as I don’t want to overdo it.’
Simone Biles has shared her struggles with anxiety during the Olympic Games in Paris.
Biles has been one of the standout stars of the Olympics, securing two gold medals.
Biles also revealed that she has largely steered clear of the Olympic village due to being overwhelmed by fans eager to take selfies with her.
‘I haven’t spent much time in the Olympic village,’ she admitted. ‘On the first day, I went to the cafeteria, and people kept asking for photos nonstop. When I finally sat down to eat, my anxiety skyrocketed, and I couldn’t stop shaking.’
‘I usually just go to the store to grab food and return to my room to avoid the anxiety.’
Biles has openly discussed her mental health challenges, especially given her incredible success in the sport. During the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, she stepped back citing mental health issues, later clarifying she experienced the ‘twisties,’ a disconnect between a gymnast’s mind and body during twists.
In a June interview with NBC, she mentioned that her weekly therapy sessions are essential to her, noting their significance before competing this week. Biles has consistently credited therapy for aiding her return to top form in gymnastics.
She also commended Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, who won silver on Thursday, stating that Andrade’s performance made this the most stressful competition she has faced.
‘Let me just say, Rebeca is incredibly talented,’ Biles expressed in her TikTok. ‘She is definitely my main competitor, and our scores are very close.’
Biles celebrates with the crowd after securing her second gold medal of the Paris Games on Thursday.
Biles, 27, is set to compete for her third gold medal in the vault on Saturday.
‘I am genuinely excited to compete alongside her; she’s incredibly kind. It’s going to be a great competition.’
In a surprising revelation, Biles admitted she received Botox on her 27th birthday back in March, but did not enjoy the results.
‘I tried baby botox in my T-zone for my birthday, and I didn’t like it,’ she said. ‘It made my eyebrow move unexpectedly during practice, so I won’t be doing that again.’
Biles is set to return to competition on Saturday for the vault, aiming for her third gold medal of the Games.
Following that, she will participate in the balance beam finals and the floor exercise finals on Monday in France.
